Native American Carvings

Carving was a very popular form of art among the 

Native Americans of Alaska.

It was how the people expressed themselves and showed their close ties with nature.

These native tribes had many carving mediums available to them.  They used wood, whale bone, rocks, fossils, ivory, and soapstone.

Their carvings were almost always images of animals, spirits or places.

The Tlingit tribes were known for their totem poles,  but the Inupiag were known for their smaller carvings, usually of animals or birds.

In the picture above, Madie and I were standing outside of a store that sold hand carved knives,  Fossil Whale bone carvings and masks, and many other traditional trinkets with carved fronts like boxes, utensils, bowls, ceremonial staffs, rattles and screens that divided the living areas of a tribal house.

My favorite carvings were of the bears.  There are many talented artists still in Alaska today that honor the traditions of those who came before.

This is an example of an Alaskan Eskimo Walrus Tusk Ivory Carved Owl

Photo courtesy of Manor Auctions Gallery

This is an example of a bone carving done by Alaskan artist, Doug Albricht

Totem Poles of Ketchikan

Totem Poles of Alaska!

The pictures on this page of my blog were all taken on my trip by me or
(if I am in the picture) by someone in my family.  Enjoy!

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Ketchikan, Alaska is known for its Native American Totem Poles.
They are so plentiful in this town that you can't walk more than a couple of blocks at a time without seeing one.
There are many guided and self-guided tours, as well as museums that showcase this beautiful art.
Totem Poles were made by many different Native American tribes.   The most notable tribes were the Tsimshian, the Haida, and the Tlingit.  

Most were done in the 1800's with the last of them completed in the very early 1900's.

Totem Poles were made for different reasons by different tribes.  Some made them as tributes or memorials to those who had died.  Some tell stories of how they believe things in nature happened, like how the earth was created or the sun was put into the sky.  Others show the heirarchy that existed within the tribe.  While still others show the prosperity of certain villages.

Most of the totem poles in town are the original poles found abandoned in nearby villages.  These originals are also housed in the Totem Heritage Center

Other totems on the various walking tours, The Saxman Native Village and also the Totem Bight State Historic Park are replicas that have been painstakingly reproduced from the originals.